First post, by retro games 100
- Rank
- l33t
Hardware: Epox 8KTA3+Pro (KT133A), GeForce3 Ti 200 (LeadTek Winfast), 256MB PC-133, ~1.6 GHz CPU, 4GB CF device, 133 FSB, no overclocking.
Software: Windows 98 SE (fresh install), DX8.1, two George Breese patches: PCI latency, the memory interleaving.
Before running all of the tests below, I defragged the CF, and I set the Control Panel -> power options to "always on". I also set the DVD-ROM to use DMA. Between every test, I rebooted the machine. Also, when I changed nVidia drivers, I uninstalled them using the the "add/remove" software method, and then I also ran Driver Cleaner 2.7. I set the desktop to 1024x768x32, and ran all video tests with that setting.
Including the 3DMark 2001 s.e. test was very useful, because this test can help determine system and AGP stability, as well as providing a benchmark score. It was unfortunate that the last (and currently only available) LeadTek/WinFast specific nVidia driver (version 61.21) caused freezing problems with 3D Mark 2001 s.e. Apparently it's a problem with VIA chipsets, and there's a (mobo BIOS?) patch for it. Unfortunately, I am using the latest BIOS on my Epox board, and so I had to remove that driver version from my tests. Pity, because it worked well with the other benchmark tests, scoring good points.
The essence of these tests is to see what happens to the benchmark scores when -
a) no VIA 4in1 service pack is used
b) various VIA 4in1 service pack versions are used
c) when tests a) and b) are being done, to see what happens to the benchmark scores when the unofficial SP isn't installed, and then is installed.
When I installed the VIA 4in1 service packs, I chose to install all options. If the AGP segment had an option, I chose "turbo mode". When I installed the unofficial Windows 98 SE service pack 2.1a, I just selected "main updates" only.